Ambulance Company Co-Owner Sentenced to More Than 13 Years in Health Care Fraud Scheme

Ambulance Company Co-Owner Sentenced to More Than 13 Years in Health Care Fraud Scheme

PHILADELPHIA—Vadim Fleshler, 33, of Philadelphia, PA, was sentenced today to 162 months in prison for a healthcare fraud scheme involving Superior EMS Ambulance Co., located in Huntingdon Valley, PA. Fleshler was a founder of Superior EMS Ambulance and managed its day-to-day operations. In December 2013, Fleshler pleaded guilty to all counts against him in the indictment including health care fraud, false statements in connection with health care matters, and conspiracy to commit health care fraud.

The defendant’s company, Superior EMS Ambulance, transported patients who were able to walk and could travel safely by means other than ambulance and who, therefore, were not eligible for ambulance transportation under Medicare requirements. The defendant, or others acting on his behalf, falsified reports to make it appear that the patients needed to be transported by ambulance when the defendant knew that the patients could be transported safely by other means and, in fact, many of the patients were able to walk. The defendant billed for the ambulance services as if those services were medically necessary. As a result of the fraudulent billing, the Medicare program paid more than $2.4 million for this inappropriate method of transportation.

In addition to the prison term, U.S. District Court Judge Michael M. Baylson ordered restitution to Medicare in the amount of $1,931,015.52, a special assessment of $900, and a three-year term of supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Inspector General. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney M. Beth Leahy.